Battle of Czarne

The Battle of Czarne occurred from 21 to 17 April 1627 during the Polish-Swedish Wars. The battle was a Polish victory.

In 1627, Swedish chancellor Axel Oxtenstierna developed a plan to flank the Polish forces from the east and west, with the western component coming from forces raised in Germany. The flooding of the Vistula, however, ensured that the 1,800-strong German mercenary force under Johann Streiff and Maximilian Teuffel could not join forces with King Gustavus Adolphus' army, and the 3,000-strong Polish army of Stanislaw Koniecpolski decided to attack the smaller Swedish force at Czarne (Hammerstein). The Poles broke through the Swedish cavalry attempting to protect unfinished field fortifications, but they were turned back by infantry fire, and several Polish attacks failed until Polish reinforcements arrived and turned the tide of the battle. Swedish morale plummeted, and the German mercenaries mutinied and arrested their commanders. The mutinous Swedish forces then agreed to join the Polish army, which then decided to advance against Oxtenstierna's main Swedish army.